EMWIS Flash N°61, July-August 2008

EMWIS Flash -
July/August 2008
Euro-Mediterranean Information System on the know-how in the Water
SectorEMWIS is a program of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.
For further information:
http://www.emwis.net
Monthly Flash produced by the EMWIS Technical Unit- OIEAU, CEDEX,
SOGESID-
with the support of the E.C.
It is available in
English,
French &
Arabic.(French & Arabic versions are
available few days later)

========================In this issue N°61 (http://www.emwis.net/thematicdirs/eflash/flash61)
========================HEADLINE
1- Euro-Mediterranean
Ministerial Conference on Water, October 29, 2008 (Jordan)IN BRIEF
2- Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean – Joint Declaration adopted
3- 5th Conference of the Water Directors of the Euro-Mediterranean and Southeastern European Countries
4- 12th EMWIS Steering Committee meeting, 21st July 2008 in Athens (Greece)
5- ANIMA puts forward 25 operational projects for the Mediterranean -
Mediterranean Water Observation System
6- IUCN calls for adopting the right methodologies and participatory approaches
in IWRM
7- UN-ESCWA High-Level Meeting to Promote Water Supply and Sanitation Policies
8- Israel & Morocco signed with the EC a Memorandum of Understanding on
statistical data exchange
9-
EMPOWERS side event in Stockholm
10- Groundwater Management in France: visit of a delegation from Morocco and
Lebanon
11- Jordan: Water scarcity places economic growth at risk
12- Palestinian Authority, Israel, Jordan: Dead Sea - Red Sea channel project
13- Israel and Emerging Water Markets: The Growing Demand For New Water
Technology Systems
14- France: Parlementarian report on dam safety
15- Italy: EIB finances water and wastewater investments in the province of Rome
16- Turkey: EIB lends EUR 135 M for hydro-power project
17- WISE data availability
18- BRIDGE provides thresholds for Water Framework Directive
19- Climate change threatens global food and water supply
20- Water Resource Protection in the Arab WorldNOMINATIONS & VACANCIESPUBLICATIONSCALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALSCALL FOR PAPERSTRAININGEVENTSBRIEF EMWIS SITE MAPCONTACT US / COMMENTS
=================================================HEADLINE
=================================================
1- Following the proposal of the conference
of the water directors of the
Euro-Mediterranean and Southeastern European countries, Bled (Slovenia), in
December 2007, the Ministerial Conference will be organised under the French
Presidency of the European Union and the "Barcelona Process: Union for the
Mediterranean" together with Egypt co-Presidency and Jordan who hosts this
event. This conference aims to prepare a long-term strategy on water in the
region. It will be held in the Dead Sea (Jordan) on 29 October 2008. In order to
involve all stakeholders, a day dedicated to civil society will be held on the
eve of the ministerial conference (28 October 2008). The official conference
website has been launched:
http://www.medaquaministerial2008.net/, contributions and comments to the
technical background documents can be
made online.
Further
information on
EMWIS website.

2- The ‘Barcelona Process: Union for the
Mediterranean’ gives a new impulse to the
Euromed Partnership (the so-called Barcelona Process). According to the Joint Declaration adopted at the Paris Summit
for the Mediterranean (13 July), it brings at least three
very important improvements: by upgrading the political level of the EU's relationship
with its Mediterranean partners; by providing for further co-ownership to our
multilateral relations; and by making these relations more concrete and visible
through additional regional and sub-regional projects, relevant for the citizens
of the region. The Summit, co-chaired by French President and
President of the European Council, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Egyptian President,
Hosni Mubarak, brought together 43 European and Mediterranean States, the
Community institutions and the regional organisations. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

3- The Water Directors of the Euro-Mediterranean and Southeastern
European Countries met on 21 and 22 July 2008, in Athens (Greece) to prepare the
special ad hoc Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Water planned in
Jordan, on 29 October 2008 and the related civil society event on 28 October.
Based on the conclusions of the 4th Conference of the Water Directors (10-11
December 2007, Bled), the Ministerial conference steering group prepared the first draft
documents for the Ministerial, i.e.
4 thematic papers (Effective
Water Governance, Water and Climate Change Adaptation, Water Financing, Water
Demand Management and Efficiency and Non-Conventional Water Resources) and ‘State
of Play’ technical papers. These documents are open for comments on the
Ministerial conference website.
Further
information on
EMWIS website.

4- A brief meeting of the EMWIS Steering
Committee was held in Athens on 21 July 2008 at the occasion of the conference
of the water directors of the Euro-Mediterranean and south-eastern European
countries. France formally handed over the Presidency of
EMWIS Steering Committee to Italy. Walter MAZZITTI, was nominated new EMWIS
Steering Committee President. The renewal of the Steering
Committee membership including the vice-Presidency as well as Presidency and
vice-Presidency of the Coordination Committee will took at a later
meeting of the Euromed water directors in December 2008 or during the
1st semester 2009. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

5- ANIMA Investment Network publishes in
association with the Diplomatie magazine a special issue entitled: “25 projects
for the Mediterranean countries.” It is now available in kiosks in France, as
well as occasionally at Euro-Med events. This magazine features 3 articles on
the water sector: one analysis and two projects. The project related to the Mediterranean Water Observation System (pp. 74)
is based on the results of feasibility study carried out in 2006 and 2007 by EMWIS. It highlights the importance of implementing a regional tool based on National Water Information Systems (NWIS)
to provide
access to reliable and harmonized data, and the relevant national and local levels,
which are cruelly lacking today at the regional level to support any policy of
integrated water resource management and risk prevention. At the regional level, implementation of such a tool, taking into
account both the needs of international initiatives and the reality of
management on the ground, would: provide an essential component for a
shared environmental information system and for a global water and sanitation
observation mechanism, improve the consistency of the indicators
produced by different agencies, and support the implementation of regional water
related strategies.
An English version of the magazine will be available in Autumn 2008. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

6- Under the
Patronage of HE Dr Mahmoud Abu Zeid President of the Arab Water Council and
Egyptian Minister of Water & Irrigation, IUCN (International Union for
Conservation of Nature) through its West Asia Middle East Regional Office
organised a Regional Dialogue on the Future of Ground Water in the Middle East &
North Africa (MENA) Region between 12-14 July, 2008 in Cairo. Participants
called for adopting
the right methodologies and participatory approaches in Integrated Water
Resources Management. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

7- In cooperation with the German
Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and in partnership with the League of Arab States
(LAS), UN-ESCWA organised a high level meeting to “Promote Water Supply and
Sanitation Policies and Related Organizational Reforms in Western Asia”, on 15
July 2008 in Cairo, Egypt. The meeting coincided with the second day of
the Ministerial Meeting of Arab Ministers responsible for water resources.
This meeting reviewed the water supply and sanitation status in the UN-ESCWA
region; analyze current situation (gaps, challenges, constraints and
opportunities); and proposed policy options to expedite achievements of MDGs
(Policy, institutional arrangements and proposed reforms). The aim of the
meeting was to support political awareness and organizational change for
improving Water Supply and Sanitation, particularly in the context of 2008 as “the International Year for Sanitation”. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

8-
The European Commission (EC) has signed two
Memorandum of Understanding establishing the basis for a sustainable exchange of
data between and the statistical offices respectively of Israel and Morocco,
within the context of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). Israel is the first Mediterranean
Partner country to sign such a memorandum. The statistical office of the Occupied Palestinian Territory
is expected to follow. Negotiations with
other Mediterranean Partner Countries
(Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt) on similar memoranda are being carried
out. Co-operation will focus on the exchange of data for the following priority
sectors: Agriculture, Energy, Environment (including water issues), External Trade & Balance of Payments,
National Accounts, Social, Transport, and Tourism. Further
information on
EMWIS website (Morocco
-
Israel).

9- On Sunday August 17 at 17:15 o’clock the
EMPOWERS Thematic Group organises a side event in the World Water Week to launch
the EMPOWERS guidelines for improved local water governance. The guidelines are
based on work in Egypt, Jordan and Palestine that was carried out in the
framework of an EU funded MEDA-Water project by a partnership of international
and local organisations. They are part of a set of publications including a
story book on local water governance, a guide to process documentation and a
summary of the EMPOWERS approach. All publications are available in English and
Arabic. The side event will present the main elements of the guidelines and the
stories of local people working on improved water governance. There will be
opportunity to share experiences and discuss approaches for water governance. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

10- From 22 to 29 June, a delegation
composed from the Litani River Basin Authority (Lebanon), Mohamad Younes and
Nabil Amacha, and the Sebou Basin Agency (Morocco), Mustapha Gouaamar and
Bouchaid Magrane, met various french experts in the field of groundwater
management. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

11- Jordan's Prime Minister Nader Al
Dahabi was in Paris for the inaugural Mediterranean Union summit, where he took
the opportunity to highlight the problem of water supply in the Middle East. In
an address given on behalf of the King, Dahabi told delegates, "the region's
demand for water is rising rapidly in tandem with a growing population and an
increasingly dangerous water scarcity". At a meeting held by the Water and
Irrigation Ministry (MWRI) shortly before he left for Paris, Prime Minister
Dahabi announced that water security was now the government's priority. Water
and Irrigation Minister Raed Abu Saud, said Jordan's
water deficit for this summer currently stood at 12.7m cubic metres. Earlier in
June, Abu Saud had warned Jordanians to expect shortages this summer, as the
nation's reservoirs stood at only 40% of their capacity. The Paris speech was
followed the next day by the publication of a report by the Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC), a US government-funded programme designed to aid development
in emerging markets. The report concluded that water scarcity placed Jordan's
continued economic growth at risk, and that progress on canalisation and
conservation was urgently required. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

12- Coyne and Bellier company, subsidiary
of the French group Suez, will study the technical feasibility, the economy and
environment of the channel project which will connect the Red Sea to the Dead
Sea. Further
information on
EMWIS website.
On the other hand, environmental groups have expressed concern about this
channel project. They say not enough research has been done and alternative
options have not been checked. Some experts have pointed out that the area is
known for seismic activity. The Red-Dead project would take water out of the Red Sea, desalinating some of it for use as drinking water, which would be used for
Israelis, Jordanians and Palestinians. The rest of the water would go to help
save the Dead Sea. Many environmental activists agree that the option of saving
the River Jordan, water from which is also siphoned off by Syria, Israel and
Jordan for drinking water, has not been explored enough. Others have suggested a
Dead-Med canal. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

13- The worldwide demand for new water
technology and management systems is constantly growing, in both developed and
developing countries. Companies and university researchers have begun to step up
their development and export of efficient wastewater treatment and water supply
technologies. One of the leaders in the field is Israel, which recycles 60-65%
of its wastewater. Israel boasts the world's largest desalination plant that is
based on the highly efficient reverse osmosis method, and has authorized the
construction of another large, reverse osmosis desalination plant. The country
exported $1 billion in water purification and water management solutions in
2006, a 25% jump over the previous year's figure, according to the Israel Export
and International Cooperation Institute. At the same time, the country's
universities are seeking to develop new water management solutions. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

14- The Parliamentary Office for
evaluating scientific and technological choices adopted on July 2, 2008, the
report of Mr Christian KERT, Deputy of the Bouches du Rhone, on how to improve the safety of dams and waterworks . The reporter noted that while
large hydroelectric dams create fewer problems than what seemed, the infinite
variety of small dams presented real risks. In addition, the
policy maintenance of dams is still very heterogeneous and raises many questions. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

15- The European Investment Bank is
lending EUR 200 million to finance water and wastewater investments in
the Province of Rome. The project covers investments from ACEA’s 2007-2012
investment programme under its ATO2 concession. ACEA is today the largest
Italian water sector operator, with a population served in excess of 8 million. The investment programme under the concession
“ATO2 Lazio Centrale – Roma” contributes to ACEA’s compliance with key EU water
sector Directives . Further
information on
EMWIS website.

16- The European Investment Bank, the
European Union’s long-term financing arm, is to lend EUR 135 million to support
the construction of eight hydroelectric power plants in South East Turkey. The
eight plants with an installed capacity of 955 megawatts (MW) are to be built
along the Seyhan and Ceyhan rivers and comprise of run-the-river weirs as well
as reservoir dam structures. Most of the project’s hydro-power plants are
expected to become operational in 2011, with the remainder coming on stream in
2012. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

17- The WISE (Water Information System for Europe) map viewer has been updated
for the World Water Day in March 2008 with thematic maps representing the
reporting of data by EU Member States under the Water Framework Directive
(article 8). The reporting was carried out in late 2007. It was calling for
information on the national monitoring programmes and stations for both surface
and ground water. Over time, these stations will be used for reporting
environmental information under the Water Framework Directive, on State of the
Environment as well as support requirements stemming from other Environmental
legislation. The maps provide a European overview as well as individual
information on each monitoring station based on interactive maps. A second
update of the map viewer happened late ay, including the annual state of the
Environment data (WISE SoE), as well as 2007 ata on bathing water (BWD) and data
collected n urban waste water under the UWWTD in 2007. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

18- The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD)
defines chemical status objectives for groundwater and related monitoring
obligations but does not yet provide criteria to assess chemical status
compliance. Now researchers from EU project BRIDGE (Background Criteria for the
Identification of Groundwater Thresholds) have investigated 14 representative
bodies of groundwater and developed thresholds that can be used to protect both
human health and the environment. The 14 groundwater bodies investigated in
BRIDGE were selected to represent as many aquifer types, climate settings and
European ecoregions as possible within the project group that included partners
from 17 EU countries. The research has shown that developing environmental
quality standards for groundwater 'itself' is in its infancy. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

19- Scientists from all over the world
representing some of the most prestigious national academies of science from the
developed and developing countries have issued
a warning that is making people sit up and take note. Since then, the 2007
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reaffirmed that not only is
climate change happening, but that anthropogenic warming is influencing many
physical and biological systems. Water resources are most vulnerable along with
food supplies, health, coastal settlements and some ecosystems, in particular,
the arctic, tundra, alpine, and coral reef ecosystems. The most sensitive
regions are most likely to include the Arctic, Africa, small islands and the
densely populated Asian mega-deltas. In their latest statement, they not only
raise attention to the need for adaptation to climate change but also the need
for concrete action to be undertaken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They
call for governments to agree, by 2009, to a timetable and funding, as well as
formulating a coordinated plan for the construction of a significant number of
carbon capture and storage demonstration plants. The statement was delivered to
the Japanese Government held during the G8 meeting on July 7-9. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

20- From 2 to 4 June 2008, the regional
workshop on "Protecting Drinking Water Sources from Pollution: Policy Options
and Practical Solutions" was held under the patronage of H.E. the Minister of
Water and Irrigation of Jordan, Eng. Raed Abu Soud at the Dead Sea in Jordan.
The workshop was organised by the regional BGR-ESCWA water project in
cooperation with the MWI-BGR project in Jordan, AWARENET, ACWUA, and was funded
by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The workshop brought together over 70 participants from competent government
authorities, water utilities, academia, NGOs, the private sector and development
projects from 12 Arab Countries, namely: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan,
Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen, including resource
people from Germany, Japan, UK and USA. The participants issued the "Dead Sea
Statement" on water protection recommendations in condensed form. The "Dead Sea
Statement" shall facilitate and support advocacy work by local, national and
regional initiatives and projects for water and environmental protection. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

21- Mr. Walter MAZZITTI, was
nominated new EMWIS Steering Committee President, during the brief meeting of
the EMWIS Steering Committee that was held in Athens on 21 July 2008 at the
occasion of the conference of the water directors of the Euro-Mediterranean and
south-eastern European countries. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

22- Lebanon finally formed a 30-member
national unity government last month. Alain Tobourian is the new Energy and
Water Minister. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

23- New Water General Director nominated
in Spain: The new general director of Water, Marta Moren, took office on
8th July in a ceremony presided over by the Ministry of Environment and Rural
and Maritime Affairs (MARM), Elena Espinosa. Marta Moren was working at the Climate Change and Environmental Risks Unit of
the EC. She served as Head of "Relations with the European Commission" Service
of the planning and sustainable use of water Unit under the Spanish Ministry of
Environment and previously was consultant on issues of transboundary water
management in the context of the Water Framework Directive for the Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Further
information on
EMWIS website.

24- Appointments and reorganization
MEEDDAT (France): On the proposal of Mr. Borloo, State Minister for Ecology, Energy,
Sustainable Development and Land Use Planning (MEEDDAT), Mrs. Judith JIGUET,
chief engineer of Agricultural Engineering, water and forests, has been
nomonated on last
July 11, director for water and biodiversity in the general direction for development, housing and nature of
the MEEDDAT. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

25- Mr. Marc Reneaume, Deputy
General Manager of Veolia Water in charge of France, was appointed President of
the Federation of Professional Water Companies (FP2E), on the occasion of the
General Assembly of the Federation on July 8, 2008. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

26- Global Water Partnership (GWP) is
seeking an Executive Secretary. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, the Executive
Secretary will be a charismatic and strategic leader who can take the
organization forward into its next strategy period with a focus on the
contribution of water to social and economic development, and with attention to
climate change adaptation in our changing world. The Executive Secretary should
have at least 10 years of experience in management at senior level including
working experience with major aid agencies/organizations and/or other
international organizations. The closing date for applications is 10 August
2008. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

27- Middle East Desalination Research
Centre (MEDRC) looking for a Director: The current Director is moving on after
10 years and we wish to find a successor to start by early 2009. A major new
Headquarters facility opened in March 2008, increasing MEDRC’s ability to carry
out its mission. The new Director will be a charismatic leader and outstanding
manager with highly developed skills in diplomacy, and the ability to understand
and communicate about scientific material, without necessarily being a scientist.
The closing date for the job will be Monday 1st September 2008 with
interviews in Oct – Nov 2008. Further
information on
EMWIS website.

28- SwissRe invites
applications for the International ReSource Award for Sustainable Watershed
Management 2009: The Award worth USD 150 000 is an internationally recognized
prize for leadership in implementing the principles of sustainability in
watershed management, and is granted to one or several projects selected by an
international jury. The prize money is open to NGOs, private, scientific and
public institutions. As the world’s leading and most diversified global
reinsurer, Swiss Re offers financial services products that enable risk taking
essential to enterprise and progress. Deadline: 31 May 2009. Further information on
EMWIS website

29- Post-Doc,
University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain: The Aragon I+D Fundation (Spain) offers
a permanent research position for a Post-Doc Researcher with previous experience
in hydraulics and water resources, namely expertise in one or more of the
following topics: 1. Numerical modelling (good knowledge of programming
language). 2. Hydraulics. 3. Hydrology. 4. Advanced experimental techniques in
fluid dynamics. Application deadline: September 26, 2008. Further information on
EMWIS website
=================================================PUBLICATIONS
=================================================

30- The Final report "The assessment and
prospects for cooperation in the Mediterranean water sector” prepared by
Mr. H. LAINE and Mr. P. MARCHANDISE has been presented at the occasion
of the conference of the water directors of the Euro-Mediterranean and
south-eastern European countries held in Athens (Greece) last 21-22 July
2008. Comments on
the final report are expected by 10th September 2008 as this report will
be one of the background documents for the Ministerial conference to be
held in the Dead Sea (Jordan) next 29 October 2008. This study
was launched in the framework of EMWIS Steering Committee in Madrid in
July 2007. Further information on
EMWIS website

31- Two major projects from the Euro-Med regional programmes, EMWIS and SMAP,
were in the spotlight to celebrate World Environment Day. On June 5, the
EuroMed Info Centre published the stories in English, French and Arabic:
a feature entitled "Olive mill waste: a source of concern for the
environment," focusing on the SMAP II-funded project in Syria, Lebanon
and Jordan, and a second feature "EMWIS Algeria: the winning team," on
water management successes in Algeria.
Further information on
EMWIS website

32-
The "First International Conference on Energy and Climate Change" took
place in Tripoli, Libya last 20-22 May 2008. The scope of the conference
was to present and discuss problems, best practices and appropriate
technology led solutions in developing efficient energy systems in the
MENA region with an emphasis on environmental protection, ecosystems,
clean energy production, energy efficiency and practical cost-effective
solutions. An objective was to highlight problems related to climate
change, environment and energy, energy supply and financing of energy
systems, particularly in remote and rural areas and in developing
countries including the use of the clean development mechanism (CDM).
The conclusions of this conference are available now online. Further
information on
EMWIS website

33-
"Water Demand Management in Jordan" is a new report published last June
by Rania A. Abdel Khaleq, Water Demand Management Unit Director, for the
Jordanian Ministry of Water and Irrigation.
Further information on
EMWIS website

34-
"Managing Water Demand: Policies, Practices, and Lessons from the Middle
East and North Africa Forums":This book lists exhaustively the tools
used to manage water demand in the MENA region. It proposes a review of
the effectiveness of WDM techniques, whether different aspects of
wastewater reuse, the economic value of water, public-private
partnerships or decentralization and participatory management of
irrigation.
Further information on
EMWIS website

35-
WISE Newsletter June 2008 has just been published. WISE Newsletter
provides updated information on the development, implementation and
review of water policies is available twice a year through the WISE
Newsletter, bulletin of the Water Information System for Europe (WISE).
Further information on
EMWIS website

36-
For the first time, WISE reference data is provided for download from
EEA data service. This starts with datasets on River basin districts and
Large rivers and large lakes. Both datasets can be used in Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) for analytical as well as for mapping purposes.
EEA is looking forward on user feedback on this data and will maintain
and enhance the reference data over the years to come. Further datasets
will be published in preparation of the reporting on River Basin
Management Plans.
Further information on
EMWIS website

37- Every day, over 2.5 billion people suffer from a lack of access to
improved sanitation and nearly 1.2 billion practice open defecation, the
riskiest sanitary practice of all, according to a report issued by the
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Drinking-water Supply and
Sanitation (JMP), a Water and Sanitation Program partner. The JMP
report, titled "Progress on Drinking Water and Sanitation - Special
Focus on Sanitation," comes halfway through the International Year
of Sanitation. The report assesses -- for the first time ever -- global,
regional and country progress using an innovative "ladder" concept. This
shows sanitation practices in greater detail, enabling experts to
highlight trends in using improved, shared and unimproved sanitation
facilities and the trend in open defecation. Similarly, the 'drinking
water ladder' shows the percentage of the world population that uses
water piped into a dwelling, plot or yard; other improved water sources
such as hand pumps, and unimproved sources.
Further information on
EMWIS website

38-
Due to wide variations among countries in survey tools and methods,
comparison between different surveys is difficult. To help overcome this
problem, the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and
Sanitation (JMP) has developed a set of harmonized survey questions: "Core
questions on drinking-water and sanitation household surveys" to help
resolve these comparability problems. Including this question set in
national surveys and censuses will help countries gain more systematic
information on the drinking-water and sanitation practices and needs of
the population. The core question set presented in this document is
already in use by the Demographic and Health Surveys, the Multiple
Indicator Cluster Surveys, and the World Health Survey. JMP wishes to
encourage widespread use of these harmonized questions in countries both
to facilitate evidence-based decision-making at national level and to
help enhance the accuracy of its own information.
Further information on
EMWIS website

39-
The proceedings of the event on the financing of the Integrated Water
Resources Management (IWRM) are available: The French Partnership for
Water organized for France and on behalf of the European Union, a
parallel event on the financing of the Integrated Water Resources
Management (IWRM) last May 12, 2008, at the 16th UN Commission of
Sustainable in New York and more specifically its review of decisions on
water and sanitation. The conference, entitled "Investing in IWRM, it
relates! " discussed the financing of IWRM at national and across
borders levels. Further information on
EMWIS website

40-
"Sealing water aid against corruption: donor interventions, donor
responsibilities": Grit Martinez, Fellow at Ecologic, and Kathleen
Shordt elaborate the role and responsibilities of donors in the fight
against corruption in the water sector.
Further information on
EMWIS website

41-
The Issue No 9 of the GEWAMED Newsletter (Mainstreaming Gender
Dimensions Into Water Resources Development and Management in the
Mediterranean Region) has been published.
Further information on
EMWIS website

42- Invest in water for farming, or the world will go hungry: A leading
researcher warns that the world is facing an imminent water crisis that
could perpetuate the current food shortage, and that spending must be
increased on water research and development, as well as infrastructure,
if such dire consequences are to be avoided.
Further information on
EMWIS website

43-
"Workshop on water and adaptation to climate change -outcomes": This
document has been prepared for the Workshop on Water and Climate
Adaptation (Amsterdam, 1–2 July 2008). It is an intermediary version of
the draft guidance on water and climate adaptation being prepared under
the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses
and International Lakes and its Protocol on Water and Health for
possible adoption by the Meetings of the Parties to both instruments in
2009/2010. The document has been jointly prepared by the Convention’s
Task Force on Water and Climate and the Protocol’s Task Force on Extreme
Weather Events.
Further information on
EMWIS website

44- "Publication: Assessing Management Regimes in Transboundary River
Basins: Do They Support Adaptive Management?". Transboundary river basin
management, in itself of high complexity due to the variety of countries
and stakeholders involved, is facing increasing challenges due to new
social, economic and climate-change drivers. In this article, Tom
Raadgever, Erik Mostert, Nicole Kranz, Eduard Interwies, and Jos
Timmerman analyse the regime features that contribute to adaptive
management of these basins.
Further information on
EMWIS website

=================================================CALL FOR
TENDERS and PROPOSALS
=================================================
45- LIFE+ new call for proposals to be launched: publication of the Regulation
in the Official Journal L149 of 9 June 2007. With a budget of €2.143 billion
(for the period 2007-2013), LIFE+ is a limited but focused funding instrument
providing specific support for the development and implementation of Community
environmental policy and legislation, in particular the objectives of the 6th
Environment Action Programme and resulting thematic strategies. At least 78% of
LIFE+ funding will be for the cofinancing of project action grants, of which at
least 50% will be for nature and biodiversity projects (including projects in
support of water and marine policies). The new projects will start in January 2009. This
second call for proposals for LIFE+ has been published in the Official Journal
(2008/C 178/20) on 15 July 2008. For this second LIFE+ call for proposals, the
deadline for the submission of proposals to the Member States is 21 November
2008. A total amount of €207,5 million is available for the 2008 call for
proposals. Further information on
EMWIS website

47- A Call for
expressions of interest (Reference Nr EuropeAid/ 123304/C/SER/TPS) for the
"Provision of training on various subjects related to the implementation of
projects financed from the EU General Budget in the context of external actions"
has been launched by EuropeAid (framework contract). This Call is open until
4 February 2009. The activities for this Call may be related to distance
learning, or pedagogical methods such as on-the-job training or case studies.
They may also include design, printing and delivery of publications such as
brochures, leaflets and reports related to training activities undertaken by
EuropeAid. The sub-fields are: Sub-list 1: EC contractual and financial
procedures related to the implementation of projects financed from the EC
General Budget in the context of external actions. Sub-list 2: Various fields
related to cooperation and development. Sub-list 3: Knowledge Management
projects. Sub-list 4: Information systems. Further information on
EMWIS website.

48- GSDI Small Grants
Program Call for proposals: The Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association
announced its Small Grants Program for the year 2008. The Global Spatial Data
Infrastructure (GSDI) Association is dedicated to international cooperation and
collaboration in support of local, national, and international spatial data
infrastructure developments that would allow nations to better address social,
economic, and environmental issues of pressing importance. Priority will be
given to projects in developing nations and countries with economies in
transition. Grants can be awarded to SDI coordinating bodies (councils,
committees) and GIS user groups, but the GSDI Association asks that one
institution take responsibility for receiving/depositing the funds. Grants will
not cover organization overhead expenses. Application deadline of 30 August
2008.
Further information on
EMWIS website.

49- Mitigating Flood
Risk in Flooded Areas in the GAP region in Turkey: The global objective of this
assignment is to increase the efficiency and the effectiveness of the
'Mitigating flood risk in flooded areas in the GAP region' project. Closing
date: 19 December 2008. Further information on
EMWIS website.

50- Call for
Participation: INSPIRE Annex I data specifications testing. The INSPIRE
Consolidation Team has started the organisation of testing data specifications
related to Annex I data, which covers coordinate reference systems, geographical
grids, geographical names, administrative units, addresses, cadastral parcels,
transport networks, hydrography, and protected sites. The Call for Participation
published on the INSPIRE web-site invites projects, organisations, companies,
consortia, and other interested parties to provide in-kind contribution to the
task. It is expected that the testing process provides benefits both for the
participants and the larger INSPIRE community. The testing period spans from
mid-October 2008 till mid February 2009. Preliminary expression of interest for
participation by 1 September to Freddy Fierens (freddy.fierens@jrc.it) is highly
appreciated. The formal registration for the testing will be available through
the INSPIRE web-site (http://www.ec-gis.org/inspire/) from 15 August and will
close on 15 September 2008. Further information on
EMWIS website.

51- CIWEM Annual
Conference 2009 (29-30 April 2009, UK) Call for papers: This conference is
organised on an academic model, like the Defra Flood Risk Management conference,
where there is a call for papers and speakers will be selected on that basis by
the conference organising committee. All the speakers will pay the conference
fee and this will be broadly in line with current CIWEM one day events.
Submission Deadline:
August 15th 2008. Further information on
EMWIS website.

52- To promote a
common understanding of technical terms related to health and environment issues
WHO has created an on-line searchable database with multi-language terminology
equivalence, called The Health and Environment Lexicon (The Lexicon). Most terms
currently have multi-language equivalents in French, Portuguese, and Spanish
with Arabic, Chinese, German, and Russian being added progressively. This is an
on-going project which has three phases, listed in order of priority: 1)
translations; 2) definitions; and 3) explanations and examples. The Lexicon is
being extended, completed and improved with all three phases being addressed
simultaneously for some terms. Currently over 350 terms have definitions. If
you would like to be considered as a potential reviewer or if you have any
comments, suggestions or additions, please email to
thelexicon@who.int . Further information
on EMWIS website.

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European
Commission. The content can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the
European Union. This disclaimer is not intended to contravene any requirements
laid down in applicable national law nor to exclude liability for matters which
may not be excluded under that law.